The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-05-05
"ADANNED LOT OF CABS"
rs WHAT Mr.. TANNER, MEMBER
FOR MIDDLE CORK,
Called the Conservatives, which De
Isle Tells, Like a School Boy
About His COmrade.
TANNER, HOWEVER, REPEATED
THAT THEY WERE
A Lot OF Cads All the Same The
Libel Against Mr.. Dillon
Lively Scenes.

LONDON, May 4.-The Right Hon.
W. Ii. Smith, First Lord OF the Treas
ury, announced 10 the House of Com
mons this afternoon that the govern.
ment had resolved that the allegation
that the stat ment nv the London
Times that Mr.. Dillon told falsehood
while denying in the HOUSE, of Com
nous that papers utterancas concern
ing his al eyed relations with Sheridan,
the Invinclbls, was breach OF privi-
lege which was not sustained by pre-.
Cedent. Continuing, Mr.. Smith said
1t would be against she dignity of the
House to eummoA the Times to the bar
without previously ipquiIiDg into the
circumstances. The gentlemen below
the gsngwsy, Mr.. Smith added, asked
that select committee be constituted
to inquire for them into the allegations
OF N. Times. The practice OF the
House had been to divest itself, as far
as possible, OF judicial duty. The
government thought such a committee
20 va. asked for would be untitled to
consider such a grave question as
would. have TO be referred to it for
decision. The government, feeling II to
be their duty to tndesvor to solve the
question, bad instructed the Attorney
General and such others rs he cared
to associate with himeelf to prosecuts
the Times for tho libel on Mr.. Dillon,
who was at liberty to select such coun-
sci as he saw fit. 10 conclusion Mr..
Smith urged the House to arcspt the
course proposed. Mr.. 7. P. 0'Oonner
condemned the governments propos-
al. He said he commise rated the gov
eminent on their humiliating and de.
grading position. Their proposal was
really for collusive action at law
made by the vslor of libel,
Mr., OOonner here produced copy
of the Tines containing the libel on
Mr.. Dillon, and, hourishlng it aloft, he
said: ~ purchased this copy of the
Times at one of the book stalls owned
by the Right Honorable First Lord Of
the Treasury. 1t is be, speaking for
the government, who says no breach
of privilege was committed. Irish
cheers He is, therefore, deeply in.
terested as a party in the case against
the editor of the Times. The two men
ought to be in the dock together. The
Irish members reject his proposal rs
unfair, unjust and unprecedented.
The House of Commons ought not to
be taken in by collusive action"
Here Mr.. Edwin j L. P. DeLisle,
Conservative member for Middle
Leicestershire, arose to point of
ORDER, He said he had beard Mr..
Charles Kearps Dsane-Tauner, Home
Rule member for Middle Cork, say the
CONSERVATIVES we're damned lot OF
csds." Irish voices: $50 you are
Speaker Peel-The Clerk OF the
Heuee will please see that the words
are taken down.
Mr.. Tanner denied that he had used
the word damned" He repeated,
however, at tie Conservatives we're
lot Of cads
The Speaker said he must withdraw
the expression and apologize. Mr..
Tanner said he would do 80.
Sir William Vernon Horcourt de.
nounced the governments proposals.
Sir Edward Clarke, Solicitor Gener-
al, moved an amendment to the gov.
ernment's proposal to the effect tha,
the House did not consider tho 1Imes's
statements concerning Mr. Dillon &
breach of privilege. Justifying bis
action in offering the amendment, SIR
Edward declared that there was no re-
cord OF Parliament having committed
man to custody Tor breach of privi-
lege, such as the action Of the Times
was now alleged 10 be. He added
that he and the Attorney General
we're responsible for the advice on
which the government hsd acted.
He proposed to Confine himself 10 the
legal points of the case regardless OF
party politics. He then quoted pre-
cedents to show that the House was
not tue proper tribunal to deal with
ouch matters. No corruption had
been alleged OF a member,
nor had any contempt Of
the House been exhibited,
such as had constituted the ofense in
previous cases where a breach OF
privilege had been committed. The
course OF the prosecution, the Solicitor
General said, would be left TO euch
persons as the Irish members might
nomioate-both counsel and solicitors.
If the government were asked 10 APP
point them they would iDterpose no
objection. In conclusion Sir Edward
slightly modified his amendment, max
ing it read that the House declines to
treat the Times'Spublication as breach
OF privilege.